LCCM Conversion- NOT

The photo above shows a modification done to a cryogenic liquid cylinder to convert from an LCCM pressure building/ economizer regulator to a more common style regulator.

This is not a manufacturer's approved modification and is a case where the possible risks likely outweigh any gain. Some of these risks include:

- the refusal of some or all repair centers (except the modifiying vendor's) to work on liquid cylinders that have been substantively altered from their original design. The potential liability resulting from the failure of a modified vessel is just not worth the minimal profit that might be made from rehab work.

- the possibility that knowledgeable end users might also consider these conversions to be unacceptable.

- the fact that liquid cylinders that are modified in this manner can never be returned to their original LCCM operation.

LCCM regulators are indeed expensive to replace, but most can be rebuilt. And- trying to convert to a less expensive regulator by substantially modifying an original manufacturer's design of a DOT vessel can have the appearance of a dime getting in the way of a dollar........

Adversity Liberates new GOrilla 1500

A post from a few weeks ago discussed "the liberating force of adversity" and the paradox of great innovation in difficult times. This week's release of the new West Cryogenics 1500 gallon GOrilla is another prime example. While this vessel has been on the books for development a long while now there was a major challenge in trying to work the design in between so many competing priorities.

Well- get a little break from the mad rush of things and see what you get......

Once again, West Cryogenics has managed to innovate at a level not regularly matched. The new GOrilla will include all the standard features found on the existing 500 gallon and 850 gallon GOrilla portable cryogenic vessels:

- Combo Top Bottom Fill

- Robust Pressure Building System

- Road Relief Valve Allowing for Liquid Transport

- Gas Output with Economizer and External Vaporizer

It will also have an auxillary 2" liquid withdrawal line for those who want to add pumping systems for liquid delivery. Rated at 250psi mawp this vessel will afford flexibility to serve both gas feed and liquid delivery systems for liquid oxygen, nitrogen or argon. And- it can be paired up with its smaller 290 to 500 gallon cousins, cryogenic liquid cylinders or gas cylinders for an almost unlimited variety of Hospital and Medical Emergency Backup and Rapid Deployment applications or fitted with mixers for direct distribution of blended welding gases.

No- West Cryogenics does not enjoy economic downturns at all. But- once again- a little downturn has provided a great opportunity for innovative development.

There has been a tradition of using downtime to come out even stronger for the future and no one at West Cryogenics can see a reason to break that tradition this time.

Simple Set Screw Solution- Shrink Seal

Today’s suggestion: Shrink Seal the set screws on your cryogenic liquid cylinder pressure building and economizer regulators.

There has been a lot of emphasis in this post on the difference between flow and pressure. The primary focus of discussion has been to try and clarify the fact that higher pressure does not equate to higher flow. Point: Cranking up the pressure builder setting on your liquid oxygen, nitrogen or argon 4L-DOT liquid cylinders does little or nothing to provide higher flow and can cause a number of negatives……..

- Out of Balance Economizers,
- Broken PB Regulators,
- Excessive Venting and more.

Solution- Leave the set screw alone. The odds of this happening- It depends.

Make it harder to mess with the screw and you might find an ounce of prevention to be worth a pound of cure. Where necessary- Create consequences for tampering with pressure builders and you might deter even more tinkering.

Oh, and yes- West Cryogenics has been doing this for years and sells both shrink seal material and heat guns.

www.westcryogenics.com